Meet the all-new iteration of Toyota’s compact MPV
A COUPLE of weeks back, we gave you the advance details on the all-new Toyota Avanza (courtesy of our reliable source), which was formally launched last Monday through a physical event — amid a limited number of RT-PCR-tested press people and bloggers — at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and a subsequent online presentation later that day.
The 2022 model of Toyota’s popular compact MPV represents the debut of the third generation. The Avanza had its most recent refresh in pre-pandemic 2019, and it’s pretty clear that the all-new iteration sees it trying to earnestly live up to its name, which means “get moving” (in Spanish) and is also derived from “avanzato,” the Italian word for “advance.”
Immediately obvious in the all-new Avanza is that it has ditched the slim profile that had made it look like an Innova on a diet. I love this move and, I suspect, so will many of you out there.
Now if you look closely, the Avanza and the recently launched Raize crossover dwell in very similar price points. Even more interesting: TMP is projecting sales of 1,000 units per model. Of course, when looking at similarly priced offerings from the same brand, cannibalization comes to mind.
We, um, raised this concern with Toyota Motor Philippines First Vice-President for Vehicle Sales Operations Sherwin Chualim, who said that the company is “confident” about achieving the sales figures for the two models. “We see them as having two different target markets,” he said. The Raize is expected to appeal to a younger demographic segment looking for affordable five-seater mobility; the Avanza targets buyers with a family of their own. Perhaps the two most important differentiators: the Raize is a compact crossover, while the Avanza is a seven-seater multipurpose vehicle.
TMP First Vice-President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Rommel Gutierrez, seated beside me during the launch, shared that the Raize is thus far generating the expected numbers. Sixty-six units of the model were sold in January (note that it was officially unveiled on Feb. 4), and a staggering 1,326 examples were delivered last month. If TMP crunched its projections about Avanza correctly, then the company can expect substantial business just in with these two models.
“The Philippines loves commercial vehicles or CVs. Through the years, MPVs have served as a practical choice for the day-to-day needs of Filipino families,” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto during the vehicle launch. And perhaps to address the aforementioned concern many have aired: “We love giving our customers choices… That is why we are reintroducing our reliable, tried-and-tested model in the compact MPV segment. I am sure this full model change of this well-loved family car will bring more happiness for all.”
A video of the Avanza’s chief engineer, Eiji Fujibayashi, was played at the venue, and the designer of the Avanza (and its sibling Daihatsu Xenia) noted how he wanted to keep the DNA of the model, whose first edition debuted in 2004 and was in production until 2011. It was positioned as an entry-level multipurpose vehicle then, before evolving into an MPV that highlighted “flexibility,” noted Mr. Fujibayashi.
The all-new version, he continued, is seen to boast the same “reliability, dependability, and affordability” that has made the model popular. Additionally, the Avanza now pushes the envelope of design while boasting a spacious, versatile interior. Notably, the Avanza is also front-wheel-driven.
Back to its looks, you could say that the Avanza is a crossover in the non-traditional sense — as it is more of an MPV/SUV combo than a sedan/SUV one. This means you have oodles of space to go along with the aggressive styling, raised ride height, and other accoutrements we have grown to love about the SUV genre.
It starts with the trapezoidal grille, which calls to mind the RAV4’s. The high shoulder line, body crimping, and flared wheel fenders also add to the dynamism of the Avanza’s look. Out back, the trapezoid reappears to finish off the affair.
The Avanza gets split-type LED headlamps and, for the G variant, 16-inch alloys. There’s no more need to fumble with keys as the vehicle features a push start button system, to go with a clean (though monochromatic) 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display (also for the G), and auto-fold side mirrors for both G and E variants. TMP says that the new front-wheel-drive system — coupled with a CVT — saves on that liquid gold called gasoline.
Inside, Toyota has commensurately worked on the Avanza as well. A new two-tone material wraps the seats, and flexibility has been upped with seven seating adjustments — featuring a Long Sofa Mode which allows third-row passengers to put up their legs by collapsing the second row. “It’s already close to the kind of space the Innova has,” added Mr. Chualim.
I had a chance to get behind the wheel for a quick drive, and the Avanza will not disappoint as a solid people mover. The appointments and execution exude a value that belies the actual price tag — although the healthy use of hard plastic still keeps us grounded that, yes, this is that kind of vehicle. Nonetheless, there is plenty to celebrate.
The G and E trims are fitted with an eight-inch Audio Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus USB ports available for recharging each family member’s tech. For safety, the G and E are equipped with a back camera and back sensor, while the G variant is equipped with Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Camera Traffic Alert for easier parking and maneuvering. The G also features Vehicle Stability Control and 6 SRS air bags.
Under the hood are the same 1NR-VE and 2NR-VE mills, tuned for slightly more power and torque. The 1.3-liter engine now generates 97hp and 122Nm (from 95hp/121Nm), while the 1.5-liter puts out 105hp and 138Nm (from 103hp/136Nm).
The all-new Avanza gets TMP’s standard three-year/100,000-km warranty, and will be sold at its more than 70 outlets nationwide. Fuel consumption, according to First Vice-President for Value Chain and Customer Experience Operations Dino Arevalo, is 15kpl for city driving and up to 20kpl for highway driving for the 1.5-liter and 13kpl (city) and 19kpl (highway) for the 1.3-liter. Mr. Arevalo added that these numbers represent a fuel economy improvement of at least 20% in the lower variant, and up to 30% improvement in the 1.5-liter-powered vehicle.
So, it seems that Toyota has a winner in its hands. It’s no secret that the lower part of the price band has been invaded by a number of brands — more notably Chinese ones. It’s pretty clear to me that, with the recent launch of the Raize, and now the Avanza, that Toyota wants no challengers to its domination of the Philippine auto market.
Whatever the price point.